TNAG-2348-FCO40-3417-Political-relations-between-Hong-Kong--China-and-Canada-1991 — Page 13

The establishment of the Whitehall Australia Group had the added advantage of identifying numerous links between

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Whitehall Departments and the Australians which were unknown to us and indeed unknown as between one Ministry and another. The Australia Group succeeded in pulling together the strands to everyone's benefit and in improving consultation between the FCO and International Relations Divisions of Whitehall Departments on policy towards Australia.

I believe that we should now approach our relations with the Canadians in the same way. I propose to convene a meeting of a "Whitehall Canada Group" at 10.30 am on Tuesday 19 November in the India Office Council Chamber, and I have invited Brian Fall, our High Commissioner in Ottawa (who will be visiting the UK at the time) to join us. I hope very much that you will be able to attend this meeting. Perhaps you would telephone Wendy Fleming on 071-270 2667 to confirm that you can do so or to give the name of a representative who will take your place.

I attach an agenda. Our aim will be to survey the field of UK/Canada contacts at government level with a view to identifying scope for developing and intensifying the contacts in support of UK interests and to examine whether closer coordination in Whitehall could give added value to the relationship. Subject to the outcome of our discussions there could be a requirement to establish a liaison group at an appropriate level to coordinate further activity calling on some or all of those represented at the November meeting.

In preparation for our November meeting, it would be helpful if you would conduct a trawl of departments within your Ministry to gauge the existing level of contact with Canada. In so doing, would you also explore what future links might be helpful in advancing the objectives of the UK and your Department? One particular interest at the meeting in November will be to identify projects on which we and the Canadians can work bilaterally to mutual advantage.

If you would let me have the results of both aspects of the trawl by 20 October, we will aim to produce a synthesis of replies in the first week of November.

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ours sincerely

Adrian Beamish

A J Beamish

Assistant Under-Secretary

(Australasia and Americas)

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